Where the Old Roses Grow: Vita Sackville-West and the Battle for Beauty during Wartime

by Janelle McCulloch

During the Second World War and in the decades after it, a group of rose lovers, including the writer and gardener Vita Sackville-West, the florist Constance Spry, and the horticulturist Graham Stuart Thomas, realised that heritage roses were becoming endangered.Fearing for their future, these rosarians began collecting rare, old roses to save them from dying out while England’s gardeners were away fighting on the front. Where the Old Roses Grow tells the extraordinary story of how they did this, while the German bombers were scorching the skies, Hitler was advancing on their lives, and hope was being extinguished, month by month.

This is a tale of gardens and roses in wartime, and of fortitude and tenacity in the face of great loss and pain, but it is also a story of hope. It celebrates the achievements of an inspired group of rose lovers, who saved Britain’s favourite flower, so it could survive and bloom for future generations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, History

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2025

Reviews

[Anna Ivanchenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely engaging read if you love gardening and especially roses, though I am more team Hybrid Tea than heritage. Learning about the way gardens survived World War II (or didn't) almost brought tears to my eyes as this is unfortunately much too pertinent nowadays. Highly recommended!

[Gab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book.
Simply one of the most beautiful biographies I have ever read.
I often had to set the book down to take a moment and reflect on what I'd just read or dry my tears.

I have always been a fan of gardens, and I have learned so much more about roses and about Vita Sackville-West, of course, but also about how historically significant preserving old flowers can be, how much of a lifetime commitment they are, how war times can affect even the smallest of gardens, ...

The author did a splendid job at collecting and presenting many gardeners' lives and stories in a way that allows the reader to get to know them and their gardens, to the point that you leave this book feeling like you know them, and it is now such a deep desire of mine to visit all these gardens to meet them in person.

I think what touched me most is how I had never considered gardens as these living things that must be inherited once one passes. Gardens are alive, and they outlive us. Gardeners have to hope they've done their best to prepare their garden to continue after them.


(The advanced reader copy I read did not have images included, so I read the whole book with my phone in one hand, googling the rose varieties to see what they looked like as well as the houses and manors mentioned. I have added so so many places to my future travel itineraries.)


Infinite thank yous to NetGalley and Gemini Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed being immersed in the historical world of roses, gardens, and famous horticulturalists. The role of the rose, and of gardens, in British (and European) history, particularly during World War Two was really interesting. A well written and well researched book and thanks to McCulloch I have a list of other books to seek out and hopefully enjoy.

[The Bookish Wombat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, non-fiction book on the importance of gardens and beauty, even in times of war. It’s an account of collectors of old roses, the “roses of poetry and song” as Constance Spry called them, and their obsession with finding and collecting varieties thought lost.

Although the title of the book names Vita Sackville-West, it’s as much about other collectors such as Maud Messel, Constance Spry, Graham Stuart Thomas, and Edward Bunyard. The fascination with old roses obsessed them all and led to lives devoted to growing as many varieties as possible.

The heart of the book, however, focuses on Sackville-West and the war years in Kent under skies riven by fighter planes. She called the period “the war on roses” after Government orders to devote all gardens to growing food, and believed that man cannot live by potatoes and onions alone. The author writes movingly of the need for the beauty and comfort a flower garden can bring in the darkest hour.

I’m not a gardener by any means and have little knowledge of roses, but I still found the book fascinating as it’s more about the people than the plants. A really interesting read – and not just for expert gardeners or rosarians.

[Gerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not quite the book that I was expecting from the description. However it was quite an interesting look into the lives and gardens that were created around the period of WWII and beyond. I had recently read about Vita Sackville West as well as stumbling onto one of her books. Where the Old Roses Grow, gave us a glimpse of a few other people responsible for keeping old varieties of roses being lost to the world, it was predominantly about Vita Sackville West (and her husband) and the creation of Sissinghurst as a home and a garden for Vita and her family. It also provided information about Graham Stuart Thomas and Constance Spry (who has a rose named after her) and a few others.

I had pictured this book as more of an adventure about them racing to keep the roses from being destroyed by the war. But it seemed to me, to be more about people with a love of roses who were preserving them for their own sake or even for business purposes in the case of some. Though they were certainly living with all the fears and trauma of World War II. And vegetables took precedence over flowers during the war. But due to their efforts and the preservation of these old heirloom roses, the roses and gardens are there for us to enjoy for years to come.

I enjoyed learning more about Sackville West but was unfamiliar with the others. Perhaps British readers or serious flower gardeners are more familiar with them. As someone who loves flowers and gardens, I enjoyed learning more about the roses and the creation of these gardens. It certainly made me curious to look up the varieties mentioned and visit some of these beautiful historic places. Readers who love gardens, roses, history or these rosarians will enjoy this the most. I did feel that the author perhaps inserted herself into the story a bit too much for my tastes. But some readers would probably enjoy this modern tie in to the gardens.
#WhereTheOldRosesGrow #NetGalley

[Nusrat Bhuiyan Nowrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgally and Ad Lib Publishers for giving me this opportunity to read this ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and provide my honest review.

I have loved roses since childhood. Whenever I saw one, especially a red rose, I couldn't resist taking it with me. Weddings, in particular, seemed to have the most stunning roses, perhaps because red is my favorite color. We had small gardens on our rooftop and balcony filled with various flower and vegetable plants in tubs. Despite having roses, we could never seem to grow the big, beautiful red ones at home, which was disappointing then and still is now.

I was particularly captivated by the wealth of information about rose names and their histories. Did you know that many of the roses we cherish today were once on the brink of extinction? These dedicated rosarians collected rare, old roses and ensured their survival, even as German bombers darkened the skies and hope seemed to fade.

During an internet blackout in my country, I read, drew, and painted to pass the time. When the internet was restored, I searched for new books and came across this one. As I mentioned earlier, roses are my favorite flower, so I was intrigued by the book's description and plot. The book isn't just about roses; it's about resilience and hope. Their love for roses and their commitment to preserving them for future generations is truly inspiring. It serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty that can flourish even in the darkest times.

If you have an interest in history, or gardening, want to learn more about roses, or simply seek an uplifting story, I highly recommend this book.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you aren't already in love with roses before reading this book, then you will be by the end!! It's a wonderful look at the world of gardening around wartime, and those characters involved in the love affair with roses that safeguarded many old varieties before they become lost or forgotten about.

The book mostly centres around Vita Sackville-West who was at the heart of gardening at the time, especially when she bought Sissinghurst which was a wreck at the time. But she had the vision of what she wanted and it took her 3 years to bring it all back to life, including saving roses that were thriving in a derelict garden.

It also features Constance Spry, who opened a florist in Mayfair at the time, and had a fresh approach to floristry and her radical designs became all the rage. Also featured are Graham Stuart Thomas and Maud Messel, and it was so fascinating to read about these plant heroes, what they went through at the time and their passion for plants and in particular roses.

The book follows them over a number of years, showing what was going on in the world at that time, and how gardening came to be a real escape for many, but the planting of roses and borders was taken over by space needed for growing vegetables.

The insight into each gardener was extremely touching and illuminating, knowing they were dealing with their own private struggles, and I found myself getting quite emotional learning more about what they were going through and the sadness they were often suffering. But their love of gardening and passion for roses shone through and I adored this book from the first page to the last!

[Chris L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janelle McCulloch shows how important gardens are to the British spirit and history. Indeed, the idea of the rose and its inclusion in a garden is an important factor in this preservation of history and tradition. McCulloch does a first-rate job at going through the history of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson's garden, Sissinghurst. McCulloch details the creation and continuation of this beautiful garden. We grow to care about the garden, and how much consideration Sackville-West and Nicholson put into the continuation of the garden.

Through telling the story of garden and roses, we learn about the various types of roses, and how rosarians cared for and ensured that the roses and their histories would not be erased even in times of war. We often just think about the beauty of roses and gardening, but we do not always consider the way they impact our moods, our relationships, and our connection to country. As McCulloch repeatedly points out, we find solace in beauty and nature. Gardens can help us make sense of a world that feels chaotic and dangerous. McCulloch's book is a nice balm for uncertain times.

[Helen Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Old Roses Grow, is a poignant biography about Vita Sackville West. It tells of her life at Sissinghurst Castle, and how during the Second World War, when gardens had to be given up for growing vegetables to feed the country, she, and other Rosa growers - Constance Spry, Graham Thomas, Edward Bunyard and Maud Messel, found the means to save old rose varieties from extinction, and bring them back into fashion.

If you love roses, and particularly old roses, this book is a must read. It is a fascinating insight into the lives and gardens of the people who rediscovered the old rose varieties and made it their hobby and life to bring them back into favour with the public.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for letting me read a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book on the story of how old roses were saved by English gardeners in the early 20th century with an emphasis on Vita Sackville-West and her Sissinghurst garden. This book introduced me to some significant rose garden's I had never heard of before and really made me wish I could just jet off to the UK in June next year to visit them (but it won't happen).

The book also makes you realise the fragility of these gardens. All the saved roses could easily vanish if they were neglected as the younger generations don't seem as interested in these types of gardens and many of the older nurseries which sold old roses are cutting back on their stock. (not being able to afford to buy a roof over your head also probably has a lot to do with it.)

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the subtitle and description, I went into this book expecting a sort of Monuments Men for endangered roses. That's not even a little what it is. But, as a biography of the major players involved in preserving and popularizing historic roses in the early to mid twentieth century, it was a decent read. For fans of old roses and/or garden history.

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read of how Vita embarked on her mission to save roses, helped by nursery men of the era who made their own names in the business.
The chapters of the planes overhead during WWII is good, making us realise how much was destroyed and yet how so many Brits kept on keeping on.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Made me miss the David Austin roses I used to have. Definitely increased my knowledge of Old Roses. Will look at the Rose Garden at RBG with new eyes this summer!

[Kristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography of sorts by Janelle McCulloch was such a joy to read. Focused mainly on Vita Sackville-West and the development of the rose garden at Sissinghurst, McCulloch tells the story of how old roses were discovered, propagated, and shared pre-, during, and post the Second World War by a range of people passionate about their gardens. From Constance Spry's florists to Maud Messel's sending hundreds of seeds back to England, McCulloch explores the lives and passions of those intent on sharing the beauty and romance of old roses with not just Britain, but the world.

McCulloch's prose is beautiful and engaging, from stunning descriptions of roses to heartfelt and sensitive discussion of the pitfalls and tragedies people faced in the war. Prose which is elevated further by McCulloch's own anecdotes when visiting places like Sissinghurst, and her own experience with finding solace in gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both an enlightening and comforting read.

[Anne Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book is like visiting an old rose garden somewhere in England where softly coloured blooms cascade over rustic brick walls, fallen petals carpet the paths and every breeze fills the air with intoxicating perfume. McCulloch’s central thesis is that thanks to the extraordinary efforts of passionate gardeners, old roses were preserved and protected during the violent years of World War 2. At a time when so much was lost and destroyed, the unique beauty of rare flowers was safeguarded so that future generations would be enriched and inspired by their special magic.

The focus of the book is poet and writer Vita Sackville-West and the extraordinary garden she created in the 1930s at Sissinghurst Castle in Kent, among the most famous gardens in the world, now administered by the National Trust and attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

While Vita Sackville-West’s story and the history of the Sissinghurst garden restoration is central, McCulloch also explores the contributions of other expert rosarians, such as Constance Spry, Maud Messel, Graham Stuart Thomas and Edward Bunyan. They were all obsessed by the beauty and romanticism of old roses and devoted their lives to hunting down and propagating the species in all its diverse and elusive varieties.

What its author defines as a memoir/biography took many years of tenacious research and interviews to put together. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a world about which those outside the horticultural field probably know little, however you don’t need any specialised knowledge or even be a gardener to appreciate this uplifting story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about old roses and the war... inspired me to book a trip to Sissinghurst !